Milwaukee man admits supplying stun gun for robbery of Stradivarius violin valued at $5M

MILWAUKEE, May 28 (UPI) -- A 36-year-old man admitted Wednesday that he supplied the stun gun used to rob the concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony of his Stradivarius violin.

Universal Knowledge Allah, who was arrested in February with Salah Salahadyn, pleaded guilty to robbery. Salahadyn is scheduled to appear in court June 30.

Frank Almond's $5 million violin was stolen in January in a parking lot after a performance at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Almond was tasered during the robbery.

The 300-year-old instrument was recovered nine days later.

The Stradivarius family made stringed instruments in Italy during the 17th and 18th century, with the best-known being the work of Antonio Stradivarius. About 650 examples of the family's work, including harps, cellos, guitars and other instruments are believed to survive, although many violins with the Stradivarius label are copies.

The stolen instrument, known as the Lipinski Stradivarius, was on loan to Almond.